Unity Fest 2023 Photo Recap
10/30/2023
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, hosted the first ever Unity Fest. The queer trans festival brought freaks and geeks from across the world for four days of memorable mischief. On the menu we had: Unity shop hangs, jams with the adidas and THERE teams, live shows by queer icons Cher Strauberry and Marie De Courcy, Shag’s pro surprise party, Maité’s fake part release, art sessions and finally a BBQ hangout at the GaySkate7 HQ that surely healed a few traumas. The festival—a brainchild of Jeffrey Cheung and Gabriel Ramirez—was a queer trans utopia exceeding all expectations. Scroll through to get a glimpse at the life-altering experience where community, love, and acceptance prevailed in the fruitiest, cuntiest ways. —Emanuele Barbier
Photos by Norma Ibarra and Diego Sarmento
The four-day fest kicked off at the Unity/Lower Grand Radio shop on Thursday night
Welcome to the best weekend of your life!
Everyone stared in awe at the tower of pizza while sampling the free beers
Feast your eyes on queer trans skate History
Gui Silva took full advantage of the art station and riso printer
Day two started at Waller. Think I overheard some locals say it’s the busiest it had ever been. Marie De Courcy comes in hot with a nosegrind 180 out
Gui Silva popped off with a kickflip over the center pad
Blunt stink bug by the combo queen, Marbie, during the cash-for-tricks jam on the QP
“Happy Unity Fest from our family to yours” —THE GOATYS
Every event needs a handful of eastern Canadians who invite you over and try to convince you the winter isn’t that bad
The adidas team was going off. Vitória Mendonça, halfcab crooked grind 180 out
The pro-to-be Shag closed us out with a steezy kickflip 5-0 on the ledge
Product toss?! Nah, it’s a free raffle and a group photo to wrap up this wonderfully chaotic session
A master of his craft, Jeff inked the team before the big show at Club Waziema
3, 2, 1…
Congrats, Shag! THERE Skateboards' newest pro!
Hearts were full; smiles were bright. Shag’s pro graphic was done by Rewina Beshue
Clearly whoever said two mountains can’t meet has never been in a room with Jim Thiebaud and Jessie Van Roechoudt
Proudly serving, the soldiers of love ate and left no crumbs
On day three, we all made the pilgrimage to the slappy Mecca, Rockridge. Beatrice Domond gets the first frontside grind
No secret to these curbs for ex-local Jessie Van, slappy crooks
Kien, flyin' Mach 10 over the trusty Element flatbar
Zoom-in on the faces to get an immersive fan experience of Chandler Burton’s ollie
We all held our breaths watching the weekend’s MVP, J’vonte Johnson dump truck into the bank
Wait, what's this?!
One of us, one of us!
Back to classic Unity shenanigans, people went to town and screenprinted some masterpieces
Is it really a skate fest if you don’t have someone tattooing in the back of a car? Thanks for the ink, Sam
Unity Fest 1, we were there. Now onto the show
Openers for the night, Evensplit, rocked so hard they blew up the amp!
All eyes on Big Freak and the captivating performance
Wifey and Cher Strauberry elevate an already perfect night
Dream team in the pit
Surprise guests Ryan and Ish closed the show. It was lit!
The GaySkate7 HQ was smoking hot on our final day—physically and metaphorically
Final touch for the makeover of the GS7’s mini. She looked fabulous
Belgian royalty, Maité Steenhoudt, shows off her new colorway on some hot lines
The whole afternoon felt like a dream
Special appearance by the homeowner, frontside pivot to fakie
Sam was deep in the zone on this last round of tattoos. If you didn’t get yours, there's always next year. Or just hit 'em up
The most boosted bean plant goes to Vi. That's all for the weekend. Thank you, Unity, THERE and everyone who showed up
Photos by Norma Ibarra and Diego Sarmento
The four-day fest kicked off at the Unity/Lower Grand Radio shop on Thursday nightWelcome to the best weekend of your life!Everyone stared in awe at the tower of pizza while sampling the free beersFeast your eyes on queer trans skate HistoryGui Silva took full advantage of the art station and riso printerDay two started at Waller. Think I overheard some locals say it’s the busiest it had ever been. Marie De Courcy comes in hot with a nosegrind 180 outGui Silva popped off with a kickflip over the center padBlunt stink bug by the combo queen, Marbie, during the cash-for-tricks jam on the QP“Happy Unity Fest from our family to yours” —THE GOATYSEvery event needs a handful of eastern Canadians who invite you over and try to convince you the winter isn’t that badThe adidas team was going off. Vitória Mendonça, halfcab crooked grind 180 outThe pro-to-be Shag closed us out with a steezy kickflip 5-0 on the ledgeProduct toss?! Nah, it’s a free raffle and a group photo to wrap up this wonderfully chaotic sessionA master of his craft, Jeff inked the team before the big show at Club Waziema3, 2, 1…Congrats, Shag! THERE Skateboards' newest pro!Hearts were full; smiles were bright. Shag’s pro graphic was done by Rewina BeshueClearly whoever said two mountains can’t meet has never been in a room with Jim Thiebaud and Jessie Van RoechoudtProudly serving, the soldiers of love ate and left no crumbsOn day three, we all made the pilgrimage to the slappy Mecca, Rockridge. Beatrice Domond gets the first frontside grindNo secret to these curbs for ex-local Jessie Van, slappy crooksKien, flyin' Mach 10 over the trusty Element flatbarZoom-in on the faces to get an immersive fan experience of Chandler Burton’s ollieWe all held our breaths watching the weekend’s MVP, J’vonte Johnson dump truck into the bankWait, what's this?!One of us, one of us!Back to classic Unity shenanigans, people went to town and screenprinted some masterpiecesIs it really a skate fest if you don’t have someone tattooing in the back of a car? Thanks for the ink, SamUnity Fest 1, we were there. Now onto the showOpeners for the night, Evensplit, rocked so hard they blew up the amp!All eyes on Big Freak and the captivating performanceWifey and Cher Strauberry elevate an already perfect nightDream team in the pitSurprise guests Ryan and Ish closed the show. It was lit!The GaySkate7 HQ was smoking hot on our final day—physically and metaphoricallyFinal touch for the makeover of the GS7’s mini. She looked fabulousBelgian royalty, Maité Steenhoudt, shows off her new colorway on some hot linesThe whole afternoon felt like a dreamSpecial appearance by the homeowner, frontside pivot to fakieSam was deep in the zone on this last round of tattoos. If you didn’t get yours, there's always next year. Or just hit 'em upThe most boosted bean plant goes to Vi. That's all for the weekend. Thank you, Unity, THERE and everyone who showed up-
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